The Chief Executive of Creative & Cultural Skills has called for a co-ordinated action plan to open new routes of entry to the creative industries. In his contribution to Paul Roberts report on "Nurturing Creativity in Young People", Tom Bewick calls for the development of alternative career pathways to unlock the potential of talented recruits from non- traditional backgrounds.
"Proper integration with other reforms in post-16 learning, such as apprenticeships and foundation degrees, provide a promising blueprint at least, potentially delivering a completely alternative qualification pathway than is available at present," he writes.
"Moreover, the development of a non-graduate entry route in to the Creative Industries could have an extremely positive impact on diversity, providing access to a broader mix of people.
"We need to open up a variety of routes into the Creative Industries. In future it should be possible for people to enter these industries straight from school or further education, not just by doing periods of unpaid work experience, but through structured programmes such as work-based learning and apprenticeships.
Culture Minister, David Lammy MP, launched an industry-led Creative Apprenticeship Task Force in September 2005 with the help of Creative & Cultural Skills. The Sector Skills Council is currently implementing a network of prototype apprenticeships to be in place by September 2006 and Phil Hope MP, Skills Minister, has recently pledged £400,000 of coordinated support to develop an industry approved UK-wide framework.
However, Tom Bewick, warns in his contribution: "To develop an apprenticeship model that meets the needs of the Creative industries will require a more flexible approach from Government towards funding and delivery than is available at present."
Tom Bewick proposes a government-supported action plan to better support pathways to the Creative Industries that would include a number of initiatives currently being developed by Creative & cultural Skills. It would include:
Better careers advice
A website with industry approved careers advice and guidance, including information on which courses enhance entrepreneurship and employability
A new qualification route
Development of a new Creative & Media Diploma, available to 14-19-year-olds from 2008/09
Work-based training
The universal rollout of Creative Apprenticeships, with financial incentives for employers to take on non-graduates and ethnic minorities
Education Business Partnerships
National rollout of Creative Partnerships linking school and creative organisations together as part of a network of 'creative hotspots'.
Mentoring networks
More coordinated investments that link course providers to industry practitioner networks; this could include a national register of industry figures working as mentors helping to increase, for example, business start-ups.
Demand-led skills provision
The development of a National Skills Academy co-financed by industry leaders and more closely aligned to business needs.
"We need to ensure that existing public funding for supporting creative careers is marshalled in a more coherent and joined-up way. Experience at present would suggest that while a number of excellent initiatives exist, they do not necessarily add up to a support infrastructure in which creative careers can be enhanced or sustained over the long term."
The Government will now consider the report and its recommendations, and publish a response and action plan in the Autumn.
New pathways to the Creative Industries